[pct-l] plantar faciitis

[Rebecca Mezoff]

Kinesio tape is a real thing.  It is a special tape with two-way  
stretch.  I am an occupational therapist and have used this tape a lot  
to tape painful shoulders after stroke as well as rehabing repetitive  
strain injuries of the upper extremities.  It really can be helpful  
paired with proper rest, stretching, and possibly other modalities  
(see your local physical therapist for foot stuff).  I can imagine  
that kinesio tape would be wonderful for plantar faciitis.

The tape itself doesn't have any "magical or healing" properties, it  
is just tape--but a tape that has some give in two directions so that  
it gives support to the muscles and encourages healing and proper  
alignment.  As someone else said, you have to clean the skin before  
application.  Alcohol swabs work well.  The tape can be worn in the  
shower (or through river fords).  It will dry and continue so stick  
for as much as a week.  Eventually it will peel off and you can  
reapply.  Tape remover swabs help get it off if you need it to come  
off sooner.

The taping method does have specific patterns for different issues.   
I'd recommend seeing a physical therapist (you thought a therapist  
would say that, didn't you!) or at least getting the kinesio tape book  
which shows patterns of taping for different issues.  I haven't  
searched the internet, but there probably are sites that show you how  
to tape also.
Rebecca